By Jon Kavanagh
On an early September morning in 1972 I climb aboard the iconic yellow and white school bus in the village of Oldtown. The driver Mrs Scully does battle with the unyielding beast (no power steering or automatic gears) as we wind our way around the narrow roads of North County Dublin. Eventually, we enter Swords from the north end, alight from the forty-five-seater outside Mary’s O’Grady’s shop and begin the physically short but emotionally long journey down Seatown Road to Swords Technical School, known locally as The Tech. Coming from a two-room country national school, I initially fit in about as well as Crocodile Dundee on the streets of New York. My contemporaries have long hair, denim jackets with a STP sticker on the back and a rabbit’s foot luck charm hanging around their necks. I have short hair and a Val Donagan style jumper. Having to move to a different classroom every forty-five minutes proves problematic as I constantly get lost in the seemingly unending maze of corridors and prefab buildings. Subjects include science, woodwork, technical drawing, art and civics. We see an overhead projector as state-of-the-art technology. Our teachers are an eclectic bunch, ranging from a Sherlock Homes lookalike, complete with deer stalker hat, cape and bent smoking pipe, to a man permanently engaged in a failed attempt to keep his combover in place. Unable to pronounce my R’s, my worst nightmare comes true when my English teacher Miss English (believe it or not!) asks me to recite Robert Burns ‘A Wed Wed Wose.’
Although half a century has ticked by, I never pass my old Alma Mater, which I grew to love, without remembering the heady days spent in the great local institution (now Fingal Community College) that was The Tech. I guess it helped make those of us of a certain vintage who we are today.
By Ken Duffy
The Swords Tidy Towns Tidiest Estate Competition took place is September. This year the estates were judged on 1. Entrance to Estate 2. Gardens 3. Litter Control 4. New to the competition this year was a special prize for the most Biodiversity/Wildlife Friendly Estate. We were lucky to get the services of three experienced independent judges this year. Martin Nulty (Landscape Gardener) Ann O’Meary (Fingal Horticultural Society) and Micheal Connolly (Fingal Horticultural Society). The sponsors of the competition this year were Redmond’s Estate Agents who donated €500 to cover 1st Prize and 3rd Prize and Hennessy & Perrozzi Solicitors who donated €250 for the 2nd Prize. Swords Tidy Towns are very grateful to them, without their generosity the competition would not have gone ahead. Our Swop Shop has become a regular event due to its popularity. It is held at the Rivervalley Community Centre on certain Saturday mornings, dates are posted on our Facebook page in advance, so keep an eye out for our next one. Emma and Ramune are the organ-isers, you will find them there setting up, meeting and greeting with their usual big smiles. There is no charge, just bring along four pieces of clothing which you wish to exchange at the Swap Shop. We had a very successful link up with ASL Airways Swords who wished to get involved in some voluntary work within the community. There was a good turnout, twelve ASL volunteers turned up, we split them into four groups. Each group was supervised by an experienced member of Swords Tidy towns, team leads were Rose, Teresa, Kim and Mal, they litter picked and weeded down the Main St and North St. The ASL volunteers very much enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to joining us again in the near future. Swords Tidy Towns have stopped meeting on Wednesday nights until the evenings get brighter again. We will still be meeting each Saturday at 9.45am in the car park of Colourtrend opposite the Garda Station. Anyone interested is very welcome to join us on the day, just turn up and introduce yourself or contact us via our organisa-tion’s email at swordstidytowns@gmail.com. During the preparation work for the new Cultural Quarter an ancient Well was discovered an estimated date is 8th century. Swords Tidy Towns sin-cerely hope that FCC intend putting a protection order on it and incorporate into a viewing floor for all to admire in the new Cultural Quarter building. There is a history of Historical Structure Genocide in this country, let us hope Fingal County Council do not decide to go down that shame-ful road.
With the summer drawing to a close and the children returning to school, many parents are busy organising the important after school activities for their children. September is a time of year when Swords Karate Club recruit new students. The club has a range of classes for children starting from 4 years up and also for adults. Our Tigers classes are suited for 4 to 7 years old where the big emphasis is on having fun with karate and developing fundamental movements. Our classes for our Tigers are on a Thursday or Saturday. Our Junior Classes are for those aged over 7 up to 12/13 years old. In the junior class students are introduced to the basics of karate and also Kata and Kumite. The focus in these classes is to develop good technique that will stand to the student as they progress upthe belt grades. Fun is also an important part of these classes as the students develop new karate techniques. These classes are on held twice weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Our Senior classes are best suited for those over 13 years up to adult. The focus is on developing good karate technique and fitness through a range of punching and kicking techniques. Kata and Kumite are also important parts of these classes. These classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We take new members (Children, Young People and Adults) all through the year. Contact Dermot on 087-8073885 for details on how to join. Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club
Are you looking to get involved in a local GAA club ? St Colmcilles GFC Swords, located on Glen Ellan Road has the answer. Weekly training for boys and girls from age 4 years upward. All coaches are fully trained and Garda vetted. This is a fun way for children to get active, make friends and have fun. Contact Cora for more information 083 374 1305. #getbehindyourlocalclub
A fantastic time was had by the Fingallians children while they practiced their sports trí Ghaeilge at the 2023 Fingallians GAA Campa Samhraidh.88 primary school children registered for the camp that ran from 31st July to 4th August. Weather overall was good despite a few passing showers.The highlight of the week was the visit of two special guests, Fingallians and Dublin Stars Emer Ní Éafa and Niamh Crowley. Both Emer and Niamh were busy preparing for the All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football final to be held in Croke Park on Sunday 13thAugust when Dublin faced on Kerry. The excitement amongst the children was palpable when the girls arrived. They received a rapturous applause as they settled in for a Q&A session that proved to be insightful and informing. Both Emer and Niamh started in the Fingallians Saturday morning Academy as young children and are now playing at the highest level. Some great questions came from the younger children such as “Do you play Mario Brothers?” and “Are you friends with Ronaldo?”. All questions were skilfully dealt with by the girls who then went on to sign autographs and played a while with each team in the camps mini-league. Fingallians GAA are grateful to Emer and Niamh for taking time out from their busy schedule to visit the Campa Samhraidh. We are very fortunate to have such role-models for our younger members. The club would like to thank Naoise, Anne, Donagh and Liam for organising the Campa Samhraidh, all of the coaches and coaching assistants who put in such a tough week’s work, Jamie Ó Tuama ó Pháirc an Chrócaigh a thug cuairt orainn agus ár nUrraitheoirí Foras na Gaeilge. Níos tábhachtaí fós, special thanks to all the boys and girls who participated in the camp and who ensured that a great time was had by all. Maith sibh!
By Ken Duffy
In the month of July Swords Tidy Towns took advantage of the many events organised in the Castle by the fabulous Events Team of Fingal County Council headed up by Paul Barnes. All the hard work and preparation put in by our volunteers for this year’s National Tidy Towns Competition was deserving of celebration, and boy did we celebrate.
We didn’t allow the bad weather to put a stop to our planned July 15th Bar B Q at our poly tunnel 5pm to late. We held a Pizza Party inside the tunnel instead, 70’s 80’s and 90’s music was blaring and sing along galore, bring your own fancied tipple. It was a great night, when the darkness crept in, it was time to leave as we didn’t have lighting in the tunnel.Our next trip out was July 27th to the Vintage Picnic Festival in the Castle 2pm until 6pm. What a fantastic event that was, three bands in all, food vouchers and a goodie bag. We were first treated to a very talented Ukulele band whose enthusiasm got the crowd going. Then we were entertained by Niamh Kavanagh our Eurovision winner and local lass, she came on with her wonderful classical accompanists, boy can that girl work a crowd. Finally, to finish off a wonderful day, the Swing Cats came on, now this band really got our feet moving, jiving, tango and the rest. We stopped off at the 44 for a couple on the way home just to finish off a perfect day.
The final get together was on July 28th 7pm to10.30pm to see Nathan Carter in the Castle, what a night. There was about twenty Tidy Towners there, we managed to get a couple of tables with a high view next to the beer tent, it was done with military strategic planning, the early bird and all that. It was a brilliant night, everyone was in great spirits dancing away, Nathan, he did not disappoint, nor did his support act. If you are interested in joining Swords Tidy Towns we can be contacted at swordstidytowns@gmail.com or call Ken on 0866008313
by Jon Kavanagh
On a sunny Saturday in the late 1960’s, my father returns home from work at lunchtime. As a farm labourer he works a five-and-a-half-day week and today is the day I have been looking forward to all week. Rejecting any attempt to display table manners. he hurriedly downs his spuds, bacon and cabbage before announcing “We’re going to the Big Smoke!”. I am precariously perched on the cross bar of his three speed Hercules bicycle as we wobble out of Oldtown. The bike remains stubbornly stuck in one gear. causing my father to pepper our journey with a generous helping of expletives, as we embark on stage one of our expedition. We take a less travelled route down the Wrens’s Nest Lane to Rolerstown. Here, we place said bike in dry dock at a friend’s house and climb aboard the open back 41B double decker. I’m enjoying stage two of our journey as the navy and cream Leyland splutters and belches its way along the Ashbourne Road, contributing generously to the destruction of the ozone whilst producing more decibels than a Rolling Stones concert. Deafened by the roar of the engine and perfumed by diesel fumes we reach our destination, the town of Swords or as my father calls it “Swurds”. The Main Street (one of the widest in Ireland) forms part of the Dublin Belfast Road. Traffic is bumper to bumper. Parking is a free for all, as Morris Minors, Minis,Volkswagen Beetles, Ford Anglias and the odd Mercedes double and even sometimes triple park. Swords Castle lies unloved as pigs rummage on its grounds. Local shops include Taylor’s Hardware and Drapery where the owners and staff are on first name terms with the customers, a cake shop run by Maggie Kenny where we buy iced buns for our tea and Mrs Heavey’s newsagents. She is ahead of her time and has a sit-down area where I enjoy a packet of Tayto and a bottle of red lemonade as my father chats and buys an Irish Sweepstake ticket. Paddy Weston, a former ship’s radio operator, has a television repair and rental shop where we pay the monthly charge for a black and white set with rabbit’s ears. No trip to Swords is complete without a visit to Clarke’s Stores – an Aladdin’s Cave of toys, comics, ice cream and sweets. The day passes all too quickly and soon, clutching the Beano, a toy machine gun, and a bag of liquorice allsorts I once again climb aboard the 41B and embrace the journey home for tea and Maggie Kenny’s buns. A perfect day still remembered all these years later.
Swords Women’s Shed has been set up for women of all ages to re-connect with the community. It is a safe place where women can interact with each other and participate in various learning projects. We will offer arts and crafts, flower arranging, crochet and needle skills, and most importantly companionship. This is a new project which gives women a sense of empowerment personal growth, also improving mental health and well being through social interaction. A place to share knowledge and of course a cup of tea. Meetings are held in Colmcilles GAA club on Thursday evenings, and attendance is strictly by registration due to limited space. Registration is posted each Monday evening 7pm sharp, for the following week.
We had our summer grading examinations at the end of June. Over 50 students presented for the belt grading examinations in front of a grading panel of JKS Ireland Senior Sensei’s. They all performed their kihon, kumite and kata very well and everyone passed with flying colours to their next coloured belt. Dermot Sensei was very proud of everyone’s achievement. JKS Swords on Tour: We set all students the challenge of wearing their club hoodie on holidays this year to see how far the club hoodies travelled. We had club hoodies pictured in Slieve Gullion in Northern Ireland, in Dingle in Kerry, in Paris France at the Eiffel Tower and in Disneyland Paris. We also had the club hoodie pictured at the Brandenburg Gate and at Universal Studios in Orlando, USA!
The club continues to train over the summer months with a small break at the beginning of August. The focus is on developing the new techniques, kata and kumite for the next belt grading examination. We take new members (Children, Young People & Adults) all through the year. Contact Dermot on 087-8073885 for details on how to join. Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club
By Ken Duffy
The Main Street and surrounds of Swords are looking vibrant and alive with a multitude of flowering colours, which is a joy to behold. The array of flowering plants was provided by Swords Tidy Towns and planted by our hard-working volunteers. Our partners Fingal County Council have played their part also with their wonderful colourful displays, a big thank you to the hard-working crews within the Operations and Parks Departments.Our preparation works for this year’s National Tidy Towns Competition was well underway as our preparation work started months in advance of the competition, this work will carry on throughout the summer. Our Swords Tidy Towns volunteers work throughout the year only taking a break over the busy Christmas period. These hard working individuals are deserving of everyone’s applause, their trojan work has resulted in Swords winning five National Silver medals in a row.
Preparation works have already started on the new Swords Cultural Quarter, which is great to see. This long-awaited development along with the continuing restoration works at the Castle will only further enhance the beauty of our wonderful town and its surrounds. As stated in previous articles, Swords Tidy Towns are always in need of your help and support in keeping our highways and byways clean and litter free. We know by your many complimentary comments posted over the years on our multimedia pages that we have that support, so please let vigilance be your buzz word.If you have some spare time and would like to get involved in community work, we would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact our Chairperson Ken Duffy at 0866008313 or email us at swordstidytowns@gmail.com Besides the usual skill sets we are always looking for people with other skills that would benefit the group, IT, Gardening, Carpentry, Fund Raising, Art, Machinery Repair, Painting etc. If you feel you have a skill that would benefit the group we would love to hear from you and of course anyone else who would interested in joining us.
